The problem of dead rubbers in the Davis Cup was resolved in innovative style on Sunday at the Rouen Kindarena. For a few points of his match against Julien Benneteau, Dan Evans found himself facing three Frenchmen at once – an exhibition-style twist to this otherwise inconsequential encounter.

But that was a step too far for referee Soren Friemel, who ruled that only those actually involved in the tie should be admitted to the playing area.

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Nicolas Mahut (R) entered the court for a spot of 'Canadian doubles'

Evans later complained about this decision, saying “For sure, the referee should have let Jamie on - it was not as if I picked out a random [person].”

But Judy Murray posted a far more upbeat message on her Twitter page, suggesting that “Noah's sense of fun” had transformed a dead rubber into an exhibition and brought an otherwise sleepy final day to life.

The oddest detail may be that Evans will be credited with a tour-level win after completing a 6-1, 6-2 victory. (His only other win on clay also came in a dead rubber, against Croatia in 2013.) Benneteau might have played a major role in France’s tie-clinching victory in Saturday’s doubles, but he seemed to have been celebrating hard overnight, and looked lethargic while playing solo.

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France's captain and tennis legend Yannick Noah (L) then made it three Frenchman against Evans

Later, Kyle Edmund lost 6-4, 6-4 to the in-form Jeremy Chardy in the final rubber - this one played within the usual rules.

There were no complaints from the International Tennis Federation, which runs the Davis Cup. "We don't expect any fallout from this at all," a spokesman said. "The only reason the fan was not allowed to go on court was because it was a security issue."